Phenotypic Modification of Human Airway Epithelial Cells in Air–Liquid Interface Culture Induced by Exposure to the Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamine 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carson, Johnny L.; Brighton, Luisa E.; Jaspers, Ilona
• Is Part Of: Ultrastructural pathology. Volume 39:Number 2(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 104
• Page End: 109
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Pathology, Cellular -- Periodicals; Ultrastructure (Biology) -- Periodicals; Diagnosis, Electron microscopic -- Periodicals; Microscopy, Electron; Pathology; 616.07582
• DOI: 10.3109/01913123.2014.960546
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-3123

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a potent tobacco-specific carcinogen. We used an air–liquid interface epithelial cell culture system to model changes associated with NNK exposure relative to pathologies documented in human tobacco-related illnesses. Although <italic>in vitro</italic> systems exhibit certain limitations, they often offer accentuation of subtle pathologies. While the distribution of cell types in control cultures typically favors the ciliated cell phenotype, NNK-exposed cultures transitioned to non-ciliated cell phenotypes as well as reflecting features consistent with squamous metaplasia. We conclude that NNK impacts normal growth and differentiation of human airway epithelium in a short interval of time <italic>in vitro</italic>.</p> </abstract>